CALDER, Robert Harvey Donald
| Service Number: | 407358 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1940, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 83 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 11 January 1919 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Central School Broken Hill, Junior Technical College Broken Hill, Broken Hill High School |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Germany, 26 June 1942, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Sage War Cemetery, Sage, Oldenburg, Germany 14. C. 6. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Sep 1940: | Involvement Sergeant, 407358 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 407358, No. 83 Squadron (RAAF), Adelaide, SA | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Help us honour Robert Harvey Donald Calder's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Robert Hocking Roy Calder and Violet Gladys Calder, of Broken Hill New South Wales, Australia.
DE TOUT MON OCEUR WITH ALL MY HEART
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Caldtr. of Broken Hill, have received the following letter dated 21st January, from the secretary of the Department of Air:
'It Is with deep regret that I have to inform you that Information has been received from the Air Ministry, London, to tho effect that all efforts to trace your son. Sergeant Robert Harvey Donald Calder have proved unavailing and it is feared that all hope of finding him alive must be abandoned.
'A report recently received from your son's Squadron, which unfortunately contains no further Information concerning the operations other than that wlilch has already been conveyed to you states that your son had completed eleven operational trips and his flying time totalled 58 hours. The crew of which he was a member was one of the most experienced of the Squadron, and In the view of the Commanding Officer, could be relied on to take the correct action in any emergency. It Is believed that the aircraft must have been shot down by flak or night fighters over the target. 'In order to complete your son's Service affairs, it has now become necessary for official purposes to presume his death. 'One of the necessary formalities in such case; as this, is that the next of Kin is required to write you letter to this Department stating that no further news has been received from the missing member. Accordingly, it is requested that you write in these terms to this department at your earliest convenience.
'I desire to extend to you again the sincere sympathy of this Department in the great anxiety which you have suffered and in the loss of your gallant son in the service of his country.'
An extract from Don Calder's last letter to his parents iust before leaving on the thousand bomber raid over Germany on June 25 last, reads: —
'Whatever happens to me is a very minor contribution to the war effort and with all my heart I realise it gladly — England and what it stands for is worth many, many millions of lives if it means keeping her going. Don't think I'm living in fear of not coming back here, you just don't think about it and it concerns no one.'
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